Intermittent grip mechanism for rotary conveyers



' 1,627,046 May 3 1927* A w. A. Mimi@ INTERMITTENT GRIP MECHANISM FOR ROTARY CONVEYERS Filed July 5o, 1924 2 sheetswsheet 2 31m/venten' xm @51g attains,

Patented May 3, 1927.

UNITED STATES 1,627,046 PATENT OFFICE.

WILLIAM ALLEN MILLER, OF PITTSBURGH, PENNSYLVANIA.

INTERMITTENT GRIP MECHANISM FOR ROTARY CONVEYERS.

Application filed July 30,

This invention relates generally to a means for producing intermittent rotary movement, and pertains more particularly to a rotary conveyer and means for intermittently rotating the same, such as it em- ]jiloyed, for instance, in an apparatus for molding silica brick, which apparatus and the method carried out thereby form the subject-mattei' of another application 'for patent tiled on the same day by this same inventor and eventuating in Letters Patent of the United States Number 1,548,474, dated August 4, 1925. This invention is not necessarily restricted to use in brick ma.- chines, but is manifestly capable. of general application to other machines where similar duties are required.

In the accompanying drawings forming part of this specification, in which like numbers of reference denotes like parts wherever they occur,

Figure 1 .is a top plan view of this invention as embodied in a. brick machine of the type referred to;

Figure 2 is a sectional view showing the mechanism for imparting intermittent or rotary movement to the revolving table, the said section being taken on the line 2-2 in Figure 3; and

Figure 3 is a sectional view taken on the line 3 3 in Figure 2.

Referring first to Figure 1, the main frame of the machine consists of the I-beam 1, suitably fixed to the floor.

The revolving table is composed of a plurality of arms 3, having a common center, through which passes shaft 4, journaled in bearings and suitably supported by standards.

The revolving table is driven by the shaft 4, (see Figure 2). Keyed or splined to shaft 4 is the ratchet 10, and shaft 4 is rotated by ratchet 10 under the impulsion of pawl 11. Pawl 11 is pivoted at 12 to an arm 13 bearing a collar 14, loosely mounted on shaft 4. At the end of arm 13 opposite that on which is located collar 14 is a slot 15, in which a pin 16 borne by arm 17 is adapted to slide. At its opposite end arm 17 is pvoted by pin 18 in yoke 19 on arm 20. By pin 21 arm 2O is eccentrically pivoted to rotary member or wheel 22, mounted on the outer end of shaft 23. Bearings 24, or the like, are provided for shaft 23,

r which is driven by driving gear 25, actw 1924. Serial No. 729,680.

ated by pinion 26, driven by pulley 27. Arm 17 reciprocates in sleeve 28, which serves as a guide. Vhen arm 17 is traveling toward the position shown in full lines in Figure 2, pawl 11 rides over the teeth of ratchet 10, but when, in the rotation of the eccentric 29, arm 13 is moved toward the position shown in the dotted line in Figure 2, pawl 11 forces rotation of ratchet 10 and thereby imparts rotary motion to shaft 4, which carries with it the revolving table. Thus an intermittent and step-by-step movement is given each of the six arms 3 that form the revolving table. By this means the molds 30, one of which is borne at the outer end of each of the arms 3, is presented successively at the points where the successive steps of this process are performed, being allowed to rest at each of the said points such predetermined period of time as may be necessary for the performance of such operations thereat as may be desired.

Ratchet is prevented from return or loose motion by guardplate 31, having therein notches 32, in which notches seats guardroller 33, borne by finger 34, constantly under the impulsion of spring 35. Casing 36 surrounds shaft 4 and bears sleeve 28 and incloses the parts for actuating shaft 4 shown in Figure 2, and is itself attached by rivets or bolts 37 to bearing 5, or it may be cast integrally with the bearing 5.

Motive power is supplied through a belt, which turns the pulley 27, which in turn drives'the gears 26 and 25. Gear 25 turns shaft 23 and its attached wheel 22. Theel 22, as hereinbefore described, causes the jogging of arm 17 in the bearing 28, and by means of pin 16, slot 15, arm 13 and pawl 11 gives an intermittent rotary motion to the shaft 4.

This intermittent motion is transferred to the arms 3, which are rigidly attached to shaft 4, and is so timed that at predetermined intervals the arms move successively into different positions, or to different stations where different operations may be peru formed on the molds or other apparatus or material carried bythe arms 3.

Having thus described this invention, I hereby reserve the benefit of all changes in form, arrangement, order, or use of parts, as it is evident that many minor changes may be made therein without departing from the lill) spirit ot' this invention or the scope of the following claims.

I claim:

l. In a rotary conveyer, a revoluble shaft, a casing for said shaft, a ratchet Wheel fixed to the shaft, a collar loosely encircling said shaft above said ratchet Wheel and having an outwardly extending arm, provided with a slot near its outer end, means movable in a straight line for rocking said arm, a pivoted pawl carried by said arm and engaging said ratchet Wheel. a notched plate fixed tolsaid shatt on the underside of said ratchet Wheel and a spring-tensioned member pivotally mounted on said casing and adapted to enlaterally projecting arm provided with a slot near `its outer end, a pawl pivoted to the said arm between the collar and the slot in the arm and engaging the said ratchet wheel, an actuating member having a sli-de-bearing in one Wall of the said casing, a pin at the inner end of the said actuating member and engaged in the slot of the said arm, a `finger ,having @ne end pivoted to the said casing and presenting a roller at its tree end, a spring having one end fastened to the casing and its lotherend attached to the said iinger, said spring being tensioned to normally hold the rollenbearng end ot the linger in proxin'iityto the said shaft, and a plate lixed on the said shaft .to Arotate therewith and presenting relatively spaced notches adapted to be successively yengaged by the said roller for checking rotation of the said shaft at predetermined points.

In testimony whereof I hereunto atlix my signature.

WVILLIAM ALLERT MILLER. 

